Virtual KVM Session Signaling Without Multi-Port Appliances

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing KVM session setups rely on multi-port appliances, limiting the number of target devices, requiring hardware and software updates on each device, and being constrained by appliance bandwidth.

Innovation Solution

Implement a virtual KVM session using a server-based session signaling and access service to negotiate and manage communication between client and target devices, utilizing out-of-band signaling and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for session management, eliminating the need for hardware-specific negotiation and updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a physical appliance with multiple ports is used as middleware, then session negotiation and device management can be performed, but the number of target devices is limited to the number of ports and hardware updates are required on each device

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of target devicesVSAvoidhardware infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the appliance functionality through software services (session signaling service and access service) running on a computing device. Instead of requiring physical hardware appliances with multiple ports, the system uses virtualized services that can accommodate any number of target devices through software-based session management and negotiation, eliminating the need for additional physical hardware as devices are added.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/physical appliance system with a software-based virtualization system. The physical appliance with fixed ports is substituted by computing devices running session signaling services and access services that manage KVM sessions through software protocols, allowing dynamic addition of devices without physical hardware changes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If hardware features and software updates are added to each target device, then new features can be supported, but the complexity of device-by-device updates increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefeature supportVSAvoiddevice updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the session negotiation and feature management functionality into a centralized access service and session signaling service. Instead of distributing feature support code to each target device, the system consolidates feature management in the computing device's services, which can then provide updated features to all connected target devices through centralized software updates without requiring individual device modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If a physical appliance is used as middleware, then session negotiation can occur, but the appliance bandwidth constrains the communication between client and target devices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication bandwidthVSAvoidmiddleware infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the session negotiation and management functionality from the physical appliance and places it in a virtualized service environment. By removing the communication bottleneck of the physical appliance's fixed bandwidth, the system allows direct or network-routed communication between client and target devices that is only limited by the network infrastructure, not by a single appliance's bandwidth constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12531931B2Systems and methods for creating a virtual KVM session between a client device and a target device

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 VERTIV CORP

AI summary

Systems and methods for establishing a KVM session are disclosed. The KVM session is designed to provide a communication channel between a client device and a target device without the use of an appliance. For example, the KVM session includes a virtualized KVM session in which the hardware and software used to create the communication channel are stored on a network-based device, as opposed to a multi-port appliance physically connected to the target device. A virtual KVM session eliminates the need for the target device to have a-priori knowledge related to the client device. The virtual KVM session can individually communicate with the client device and the target device, and negotiate a session between the client device and the target device prior to any communication between the target device and the client device. In some embodiments, the virtual KVM session uses out-of-band signaling and SIP to negotiate a session.